The Ceramic Sequence of Piedras Negras, Guatemala: Type and Varieties

     
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The Yaxche Ceramic Phase (A.D. 620–A.D. 750)

Yaxche ceramics have been found in large quantities in all areas of the site, including the peripheral residential groups, in sealed contexts, below inarguably later (Chacalhaaz) materials, and in association with dated monuments. Large lots of unmixed Yaxche phase material were found in several locations across the site including a residential group located just below the Acropolis (Arredondo 1998), a residential group located in the southern end of the site (Romero 1999), and a residential group located west of the Acropolis (Op. 46, Golden 2002).

Though many forms in use at Piedras Negras during this time are similar to forms utilized in the Central Petén, surface decoration is becoming increasingly differentiated from decorative modes found elsewhere in the Maya area. At other Maya sites, positive painting is the primary polychrome decorative mode. At Piedras Negras, however, resist decoration almost completely replaces positive painting as the primary polychrome mode. Santa Rosa Cream Polychrome is the most common resist type at this period, though it is only one of several resist types known from the site. Other resist decorated types include Mataculebra Polychrome, Suktan Cream Polychrome, Lemba Polychrome, and Yokib Incised-Resist.

Positive painted polychromes occur in Yaxche, but are generally a minority type. Common positive painted polychrome types include Saxche and Palmar Orange Polychromes, Coabano Red-on-Orange and Guadua Orange Polychrome. The most common decorative motif consists of bands of pseudoglyphs framed by red and black lines. Other diagnostic positive painted polychrome designs include geometric designs including the use of Tlaloc or year signs motifs on the interiors of shallow plates.

Finally, it is important to note the examples of Chablekal Fine Gray pottery are occasionally found in Yaxche contexts, though much more frequent in later, Chacalhaaz contexts. Chablekal Fine Gray appears in the Palenque region no earlier than about A.D. 730.  Given this, it seems reasonable to conclude Chablekal ceramics did not enter Piedras Negras prior to about A.D. 750.  After this time, the use of resist decoration becomes less common. This shift in decorative technique, along with changes in decorative motif, marks the end of the Yaxche ceramic phase.

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